Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made in the implementation of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2598/07]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the implementation to date of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation; the plans he has for this program in the first half of 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2537/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 179 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, on 18 June last year, I joined the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Cabinet colleagues to launch our comprehensive Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation for the period 2006-2013. This Strategy provides for the continued development of a world-class research system, underpinned by the essential physical and human infrastructure, doubling the number of PhD graduates over its lifespan. Top-level researchers will also be drawn from both home-grown talent and the brightest who can be attracted from overseas. The Strategy also proposed mechanisms to ensure that the investment in research is turned into commercial value, to the greatest extent possible, and, in regard to enterprise, the Strategy set out structures and mechanisms to enhance supports to industry and encourage firms to become more engaged in R&D activity.

The Government's firm commitment and support for the STI Strategy was confirmed in the NDP, of which the STI Strategy is a core component. The NDP has set out how an unprecedented €8.2 billion investment in Science, Technology and Innovation will work to deliver the knowledge economy in this country. Over the lifetime of the NDP, the State will invest €6.1 billion in STI, as detailed in the following programme areas:

World Class Research STI — €3,462 million

Enterprise STI — €1,292 million

Agri-Food Research — €641 million

Energy Research — €149 million

Marine Research — €141 million

Geo-science — €33 million

Health research — €301 million

Environment Research — €93 million

This will bring Ireland into line with R&D performance in leading countries. The investment in human capital, physical infrastructure and commercialisation of research, which I have outlined here, is complemented by investment in initiatives set out in the NDP allocations for Higher Education and the IDA. Taking account of these amounts, the global NDP investment in STI is over €8.2 billion.

I am pleased to report intensive progress on the implementation of the STI Strategy over the past six months. While overall policy continues to be directed by the Cabinet Committee on STI and its supporting high-level IDC, the Strategy also provided for the establishment of new cross-cutting structures at operational level, to take forward its implementation in a whole of government manner.

In line with the recommendations of the Strategy, my Department has established Technology Ireland (TI) with participation from EI, IDA Ireland, SFI, Forfás and HEA. TI has met on 6 occasions since the Strategy was launched. TI is bringing coherence to the enterprise dimension of the Strategy and will have particular responsibility for overseeing the implementation of required actions to achieve the BERD targets set out in the SSTI 2006-2013. Among the SSTI initiatives currently being driven by TI are: simplifying the R&D Grants Schemes, strengthening the Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in the Universities and developing a proposal for the development of Competence Centres.

The Higher Education Research Group/ HERG, which is chaired by the DES, with my own Department as Deputy Chair, held its first meeting on 10 January and has agreed a substantive work programme for the year ahead, in terms of tackling the objectives in the Strategy for the HE Sector, including growing our research infrastructure and human capital.

The ASC has agreed its work programme for 2007 and will tackle key issues raised in the STI Strategy including Researcher Careers and International Collaboration. The Advisory Science Council published a major report on Health Research, which I launched with my colleague the Minister for Health on 23 November, reflecting the cross-Departmental nature of this issue and addressing the potential for Health Research, which had been highlighted in the SSTI.

In addition, in December, I advised the Government of the appointment of Professor Patrick Cunningham as the new Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government and he will play a key role in providing scientific input and advice in furtherance of the STI Strategy.

Most importantly, the "whole of government" approach to STI, which had ensued from the new coordination and governance structures put in place by Government since June 2004, has now been reinforced by the cross-Departmental STI Strategy and consolidated in the new NDP. This will ensure that we continue to benefit from the necessary synergies, coherence and more structured policy coordination required in this complex and evolving environment.